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Jimmy Steal

Top 7 One Hit Wonder Rock Songs Of The 90s

By Jimmy Steal

Compiling a list of the Top 7 One Hit Wonder Rock Songs Of The 90’s is harder than you think. Well I took a crack at it and made my own list!

Guys with records for heads as one hit wonders shrugging

What Defines A One Hit Wonder?

In my opinion, a one hit wonder is not only defined as a one time hit song by a band that never had another one, but also the staying power of that one song. For example, over the years here at the Rat, we’ve played many songs from unknown artists that became pretty big hits with our audience, whether they were hits on the charts or not. Then they eventually fade way. Not only do we never hear from the band again, but the song is subsequently forgotten, rarely if ever played again. No, staying power is a very important factor when compiling a list of the top 7 one hit wonder songs of the 90’s.

An everlasting one hit wonder also has to have something catchy to last. Either in the story being told, the chorus, an anthemic guitar riff, something. Something about the song has to grab hold of your ears and not let go. This gives the one hit wonder its longevity. No matter where you are or what you are doing in 2024 and beyond, when you hear that song from a band who’s name you might not even recall, it immediately takes you back to a time when Bill Clinton was in office, Tramp Stamps were all the rage, and OJ, well, you know.

Bill Clinton stands with Monica Lewinski

One of the great things about rockin’ out as a DJ on the Rat for almost 28 years now is that I had the pleasure of playing some of the songs on this list when they originally came out. They’ve some how managed to stay on your radio as long as I have! It’s still great to hear them today, especially when they pop up on my 6pm weekday segment 90’s Palooza.

So let’s take that trip back into time, as we list the Top 7 One Hit Wonder Rock Songs Of The 90’s!

  • "My Own Worst Enemy" Lit 1999

    Released in February of 1999, this song from the SoCal rockers who had been toiling for a decade with local success, became the rock anthem of that summer. It had it all. A Blink 182 feel, a story many young men could relate to, and that opening guitar riff. Admit it, it still puts you in a good mood the second you hear that BANA NAT NAT NAT BANA NAT NAT BAWW NAWW!

  • "Sex And Candy" Marcy Playground 1997

    Released in September of 1997, this song was written and sung by John Wozniak, who went to the Marcy Open School in Minneapolis. I guess he really liked the playground. While not the hardest rocker you’ll ever hear, it has just enough lusty overtones and earworm lyrics like “Disco Lemonade” to make it unforgettable.

     

  • "Closing Time" Semisonic 1998

    Closing Time was released in March of 1998, and became a hit on the pop charts as well as the rock charts. It’s been said singer Dan Wilson wrote the song in anticipation of fatherhood and how coming out of the womb is like being kicked out of a bar at the end of the night. That’s some real Gen X shit right there!

  • "Song 2" Blur 1997

    The English rock band Blur had a multi country hit with this song that says a lot in 2 minute and 2 second song with just 2 verses and 2 choruses. While it’s somewhat difficult to understand singer Damon Albarn’s lyrics, no one mistakes the signature WOOOOOO HOOOOO just 15 seconds into this unforgettable ditty.

  • "The Freshmen" Verve Pipe 1997

    Not feeling depressed enough? Put on this little ray of sunshine, it should do the trick. Monster hit for the band out of Lansing Michigan. It’s a half true story about singer songwriter Brian Vander Ark’s relationship with a girl. He has said in interviews the suicide part was fictitious.

  • "Got You Where I Want You" The Flys 1998

    Released as part of the Disturbing Behavior soundtrack as well as on the band’s album Holiday Man, this song is dark, sounds a little like Nirvana, and was a total hit from the moment it was released in the summer of ’98.

  • "The Way" Fastball 1998

    Strange thing about this song is that it sounds adventurous. They made up their minds, they left on an adventure, the road they traveled was paved with gold, and of course they never grow old….um yeah. Well, come to find out singer Tony Scalzo came up with the idea for the song after reading a news article about an elderly couple that disappeared, and where eventually discovered dead in their car, miles away from their destination. True story bruh.

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